Overview
The Natural Park of Despeñaperros is located in the north of the province of Jaén, in the heart of Sierra Morena mountains.  The area covers over 7,000ha and includes the magnificent Los Órganos Natural Monument, a rock shaped like a giant church organ.  It is mainly a steep gorge but also includes caves and waterfalls.

Walking
The park has a visitors' centre, Centro de Visitantes Puerta de Andalucía which provides information and maps on the walks within the park.
Two of the signposted walks are as follows:
Sendero Cueva de los Muñecos is a 2km walk to a cave which is an ancient Iberian shrine in the Collado de los Jardines.
Sendero Barranco de Valdeazores is a much longer walk 13km walk which takes you through varied and beautiful scenery.  This includes the Valdeazores ravine, woodland of pine and holm oak trees and a spectacular view point.

Sightseeing
In the Natural Park, one can admire outstanding places like "Los Órganos" where the quartzite rocks are shaped like giant tubes, "El Salto del Fraile" or "Las Correderas" among others.
In Santa Elena, one can visit the Sanctuary of Cueva de los Muñecos; many remains from the Neolithic have been found in the Sanctuary of Collado de los Jardines as well as cave painting in the Cuevas de las Vacas del Rematoso.

Geology
It is the natural passage and the entry door to Andalusia from the neighbouring plateau of Castilla which opens a way through an amazing gorge, hollowed out from the rocks naturally in the course of time by the Despeñaperros river.

Animals/Birds
The birds of prey which nest here include golden eagles, booted eagles, griffon vultures, sparrowhawks and, kestrels. Blue rock thrushes and rock thrushes inhabit the stonier, higher slopes. The rivers are home to kingfishers. It is thought that the endangered lynx and wolf still inhabit this area.  Other mammals include foxes, Egyptian mongooses and cats.

Plants
Away from the gorge the vegetation is woodland cork, gall and holm oak.  Under these grow strawberry trees, Kermes oaks, myrtle, lentisc, wild olive trees and rock roses.